Wouldn’t be easy. With every passing minute, she felt more comfortable with him. The same thing had happened five years ago. They’d bonded quickly and the shift to an intimate relationship had been effortless, natural, and oh, so thrilling.
The square was packed, so they crossed the street and sat on the top step of the courthouse. By this time in the afternoon that much was shaded, but the cement was still warm under her tush. She set her backpack down next to her.
“This is better.” Luis chose a spot an arm’s length away and sat at an angle so he was almost facing her. “I like the music but it’s hard to hear when you’re right by it.” He took a long swallow of his lemonade.
She scooted around, too, and the toes of their boots almost touched. His had some intricate stitching. Looked pricey. “Nice boots.” She sipped her drink.
“Wore the fancy ones today.” He glanced at hers. “Looks like you did, too. I like that color.”
“They call it Montana Sky. I don’t have much reason to wear them, but I’ve always wanted boots with fringe.” She wiggled her foot to make the fringe sway.
“Bet they look great on the dance floor.”
She met his gaze. A tingling started low in her stomach. “They were supposed to be, but….”
“Too slippery?”
“No, they’re fine.” During the clinic they’d talked about checking out the band at the local watering hole. But that would’ve cut into their lovemaking time and they’d nixed the idea. Those thoughts made her temperature rise. She took a big gulp of her drink. “This lemonade’s tasty. Hits the spot. Thank you.” She swirled the ice around to redistribute it.
“You’ve never taken those boots dancing, have you?”
Was he about to invite her out? “It’s tough to find time in the schedule, but if you’re suggesting?—”
“I might be. I also have two brothers who would love to take you and those boots for a spin around the floor of the Raccoon tonight. It would be a shame to waste a perfect opportunity.” Breaking eye contact, he concentrated on his drink.
“Only two brothers?” She smiled. “Who has a girlfriend?”
“Rio. That boy’s been breaking hearts since he was in first grade. I’m offering Zay and Monty.”
“You might want to check with them first.”
“Don’t need to. I can tell they like you. Everybody likes you.” A soft glow lit his dark eyes. “I’ll admit the prospect of your visit knocked me sideways, but I’m glad you came.”
Her breath caught. Not the words he’d spoken in her dream, but the velvet tone was there, giving her all the feels. “Me, too.”
He thumbed back his hat. “I never told my family about our….” He frowned. “See, that’s part of the problem. I don’t know how to describe?—”
“Me, either. All the words are wrong.”
His gaze sought hers. “They sound shallow. But it wasn’t.”
“Because we’re not.”
“Exactly! If I’d told my sisters I’d met you years ago, it wouldn’t have ended there. They would’ve wanted details and… I have no poker face.”
“I get it. I held back, too. I could have told Mila we’d met at a clinic when she emailed me to confirm my tour reservation, but I didn’t. For one thing, I thought there was a good chance you’d be married with a couple of kids.”
He chuckled. “I expected that, too.”
“What happened? You’re a great catch. I can’t believe some woman hasn’t?—”
”Auntie Ezzie thinks I’m too picky.”
“I know. She told me.”
“I’ll bet she did.” He grinned, showing off those sexy dimples. “She accuses Auntie Kat of being a matchmaker but she’s just as bad. She’s been after me to find someone, especially now that Adam’s married.”
“Please promise me you won’t end up marrying someone to please your aunties.”
